A total of seven teams, made up of students from Homewood elementary, middle and high schools, as well as some from Spain Park, participated in Sunday's relay event to help raise funds for The Bell Center.

Together, the teams achieved their goal and raised $18,000--all to help benefit The Center's Early Intervention Programs.

When you speak to Patriot Partners organizer and Homewood High School Cross-Country Coach Lars Porter about the success of the event--about how three of the top five relay finishes came from Patriot Partner teams, or about the amount of money raised--he's quick to point out the real reason for it all.

Each of the five teams ran in honor of a child who benefits from the programs at The Center, programs dedicated to "maximizing the potential of children from birth to three years of age who are at risk for developmental delay."

"The competition came second," he said. "Their hearts were in the right place."

As soon as each runner finished, said Porter, the first thing they wanted to do was find the child they had run for--the child who had motivated them all along.

The pictures (above) show it all.

This year's success has only motivated everyone more--they have high hopes for next year.

Next year, Porter said he plans to increase their efforts.

"I'd like to get some of the other Over the Mountain Schools involved," he said. "Together, we can figure out how to turn those $18,000 into $50,000."